On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:08:46 -0500, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

I recently had a battery corrode in my black
4D cell Mag light. Old style bulb, if that's
relevant.

The 4D mag light by my front door was dead. I
managed to get the tail cap off (two big pipe
wrenches) and find the bottom battery had
corroded. Brand new battery, Endurance, from
Advance Auto Parts. After considerable scrubbing
and sanding, the light works again. I'm leaving it
in peices over night to dry. Then load up with
four Rayovac cells, and a shot of grease on the
tail cap threads.

The 4D mag is my "grab and go" light, in case I
need to go some where in a hurry.

It was only happy coincidence that I found the
corroded battery. Might have been there for
years, if I'd not needed the light for a bulb
test.

Since that time, others have told me that
batteries
corrode only in D cell mags, and typically the
battery next to the tail cap. Has anyone else
had this happen? Is it a common problem?

One thing I've concluded after several years experience is that all
Chinese made batteries (primary cells, anyway) are crap. It's not a
political issue for me, just lots of experience. I prefer Duracell,
but I'll use any batteries that aren't made in China. Their lower
price is negated by the shorter service they give, plus they are
really prone to leaking. For a while we bought the cheapies at work
(from Fastenal, as well as other vendors); that ended up costing us
more in the long run. Lots of the AA cells even would leak while still
in the wrapper. Back to the good stuff now.

Maybe the Advance brand is from "over yonder".

Joe